Method and system for providing intelligent in-store couponing

Abstract

The present invention features an intelligent in-store couponing system comprising an operating computer for controlling the functions of the intelligent in-store couponing system; a coupon database capable of storing coupons and coupon data or information; a coupon management module for managing the coupons and their delivery; and at least one coupon delivery system capable of delivering a coupon to a customer in a usable format at the point-of-sale and/or point-of-decision. The in-store couponing system is preferably computer network-based and controlled by personnel at an individual business location or business chain, or by an administrative body controlling one or more of the functions of a business location or chain. The in-store couponing system may further be interfaced or integrated with an in-store media broadcasting and/or customer entrance detection and tracking system to provide ad-driven in-store couponing.

1 . A method for providing intelligent in-store couponing, said method comprising: 
 providing a coupon database comprising at least one of stored, input, and downloaded coupon information;    providing a means for accessing the coupon database and for generating coupons with the coupon information;    establishing an intelligent in-store couponing system; and    delivering to a customer one or more coupons at at least one of a point-of-sale and a point-of-decision.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising interfacing said intelligent in-store couponing system with an in-store media broadcast system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the in-store media broadcast system further includes a computer network configured to interconnect a plurality of clients and a variable media output system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said in-store media broadcast system is selected from the group consisting of a computer network-based media broadcast system, a satellite-based media broadcast system, and an internally isolated media broadcast system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising interfacing said intelligent in-store couponing system with a customer entrance detection and tracking system.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the customer entrance detection and tracking system further includes at least one of a customer loyalty card system, a biometric data system, a manual purchase information system, and a product scanning device.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the customer entrance detection and tracking system further includes at least one of detecting and identifying a customer, monitoring the customers in the business location at all times, tracking the shopping behavior of the customers, and tracking the purchase habits of the customers.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising interfacing said intelligent in-store couponing system with a customer information and management system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the customer information and management system further includes the ability to store individual customer information including at least one of identity, gender, common items purchased, money spent, common shopping time, and age.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said intelligent in-store couponing system further comprises a system selected from the group consisting of an in-store media broadcast system, a customer entrance detection and tracking system, a customer information and management system, a return on investment system, and a trigger-based broadcasting system.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coupon is a paperless coupon.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coupon is a paper coupon.  
     
     
         13 . A system for providing intelligent in-store couponing, said system comprising: 
 a coupon database configured to store coupon information;    a coupon management module for managing the coupon information, for generating coupons based on the coupon information, and for accessing said coupon database; and    at least one coupon delivery system capable of delivering the generated coupons to a customer at at least one of a point-of-sale and a point-of-decision.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising an in-store media broadcasting system interfaced with the coupon management module and the at least one coupon delivery system.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the in-store media broadcasting system further includes a computer network configured to interconnect a plurality of clients and a variable media output system.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a customer entrance detection and tracking system interfaced with the coupon management module.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the customer entrance detection and tracking system further includes at least one of a customer loyalty card system, a biometric data system, a manual purchase information system, and a product scanning device.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the customer entrance detection and tracking system further includes at least one of detecting and identifying a customer, monitoring the customers in the business location at all times, tracking the shopping behavior of the customers, and tracking the purchase habits of the customers.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a customer information and management system interfaced with the coupon management module.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the customer information and management system further includes the ability to store individual customer information including at least one of identity, gender, common items purchased, money spent, common shopping time, and age.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the generated coupons are paper based.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the generated coupons are non-paper based.  
     
     
         23 . A system for providing intelligent in-store couponing, said system comprising: 
 a coupon database configured to store coupon information;    a coupon management module for managing the coupon information, for generating coupons based on the coupon information, and for accessing said coupon database;    at least one coupon delivery system capable of delivering the generated coupons to a customer at at least one of a point-of-sale and a point-of-decision;    an in-store media broadcasting system interfaced with the coupon management module and the at least one coupon delivery system;    a customer entrance detection and tracking system interfaced with the coupon management module; and    a customer information and management system interfaced with the coupon management module.